Friday, October 14, 2016

Breast Cancer and Pregnancy: Another Abortion Exception Debunked

Contrary to popular reporting, Breast Cancer does not necessarlily mean a
death sentence for baby or mother. The truth of the matter is that both can
safely live. If you are not aware of this aspect of oncological medicine, it
might surprise you to know that this scientific fact is not news at all.
Mothers with a cancer diagnosis have been successfully and safely treated for
decades – and at no danger to their unborn children.

As we focus on October as Breast Cancer Awareness month, a perpetuated
lie becomes deadly for either mother or child. Cancer organizations, as well as
ill-informed physicians, too frequently convince women that an abortion is
necessary – to save the life of the mother, should she be diagnosed during
pregnancy. According to their recommendation, she otherwise risks her own life
in an unnecessary bid to save her baby – leaving a child without a mother.

Why Women Are Left Uninformed?

Why is this scenario so common? Why do mothers feel driven
to decide between their own lives and the lives of their unborn children? One
reason is obvious. Abortion is a lucrative business. If women can be pushed
into subscribing to unsubstantiated fear, there is money to be made – millions of
dollars, annually for abortion giant Planned Parenthood.

The reason doctors fail to inform their patients is a bit
more cryptic. Perhaps it has to do with keeping patients in their hometown
medical facilities. Personal experience has taught us that doctors often prefer
local treatment to referral to out-of-town specialists. An obvious conclusion
could then be discerned as a desire to keep ‘business’ at home.

The Truth of Cancer Treatment during Pregnancy

Cancer treatment facilities such as MD Anderson Cancer
Center in Houston, TX have an astounding success rate of healthy births to
cancer stricken mothers. Somehow the news just isn’t getting out into the
population at large. Although there are numerous medical journals, success
stories, and peer contacts, too many doctors still seem to be in the dark.
Whether or not this is a matter of willful ignorance or lack of training,
remains an unknown.

Breast Cancer While Pregnant Gets Personal

At twenty weeks pregnant, our daughter was diagnosed with
BRCA1 breast cancer – a particularly destructive form present in our family
genetics. With dire past maternal outcomes – death within weeks or up to five
years –aggressive treatment was in order to save her life. There was no time to
lose. Aborting her unborn daughter was an unconceivable option.

Unfortunately, our daughter was given limited options. In
consultation with local doctors, it was implied that she had two choices. The first
was to terminate (read kill her child through abortion) and then aggressively
treat her BRCA1 cancer. The second implication was that she could wait out her
pregnancy, at great physical harm to her own health. As a molecular biologist
with a gift for research, however, neither answer was satisfactory. Since she
was able to access and read medical journals, our daughter did her own
research. As a result, she found her answer in Houston, TX.

Making an Educated Decision

Armed with the knowledge of a third, much more palatable
choice, a trip to Houston resulted in a chemotherapy regimen, to begin
immediately. Two weeks before birth, further treatment was postponed to ready
her body for childbirth. Her 8+ lb. healthy daughter was born on Thanksgiving
Day and scored a perfect 10 on her Apgar test. The miracle of life, confirmed
she had made the correct, pro-life decision.

Sharing the Pro-Life News

Part of our gratitude for finding such a positive outcome to
a frightening scenario finds us proclaiming the good news to everyone we meet.
Mothers, nurses, and even doctors are often amazed that they have never heard
about this decades old treatment option. The goal of sharing this life-affirming option
is a catalyst for an annual sharing of the facts. Please consider passing the
word along – a life may be hanging in the balance, even as you read these
words.

Designs by Birgit

Birgit Jones is a 50-something cradle Catholic who is passionate about the Church and the prolife movement. A graduate of Brescia University, she has employed her Bachelor of Art degree in pursuits ranging from Executive Director of Right to Life groups to Field Representative to Congressman Ron Lewis (R-KY).

She has been married to her Catholic convert husband, Rick, for 40 years. They have four children and eight living grandchildren (all age eleven and under). Their frequent visits eliminate any fear of an empty nest!

Birgit can also be found on her personal blog Designs By Birgit and Facebook fan page Designs By Birgit, where she utilizes her advertising and public relations experience to promote Life through her pro-life memes.